This excerpt is taken from the book of Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
Attaching the heart to mosques instead of relics and shrines is Sunnah
The actions and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that are based on obligation, recommendation, or permissibility must be followed in the same manner. However, the actions that are specific to the person of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are different. Wherever the Prophet (peace be upon him) designated a place as prescribed for worship, it is obligatory upon us to also intend that same place.
When the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) intended to travel to Makkah Mukarramah, the intention was to perform prayers there along with other acts of worship.
● He would perform Tawaf of the House of Allah
● He would perform Sa’i between Safa and Marwah
● He would stand (wuquf) at the fields of Arafat and Mash’ar al-Haram
● He would throw pebbles at the three Jamaraat
● He would stand by the first two Jamaraat and supplicate.
Therefore, all these acts are prescribed for us; some are obligatory and some are recommended.
The Noble Messenger remained in Makkah Mukarramah and did not go anywhere except the Masjid al-Haram. He did not go to the cave (Ghar Thawr) where he stayed during the migration journey, nor did he go to the Cave of Hira where he used to worship before prophethood. The people of Makkah also worshipped in the same manner. Some people believe that this method was invented by Abdul Muttalib.
After Tawaf, the Prophet (peace be upon him) offered two rak’ahs of prayer, but it is not established that he prayed after سعي بين الصفا والمروه, nor did he pray it. When he entered Masjid al-Haram, he first performed Tawaf, and this Tawaf served as a substitute for Tahiyyat al-Masjid. He used to offer two rak’ahs of Tahiyyat al-Masjid upon entering ordinary mosques, but he did not offer these two rak’ahs upon entering Masjid al-Haram.
● When the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) reached Mina, he first stoned the Jamrah Aqabah. After that, he offered the sacrifice.
● Then he had his head shaved.
● After that, he proceeded for Tawaf of the House of Allah.
● The Sunnah method now is that the people of Mina first perform stoning, then sacrifice.
● The stoning of the Jamaraat by the people of Mina (on behalf of others) is equivalent to the Eid prayer.
There is neither Eid prayer nor Jummah prayer in Arafat and Mina because the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) did not offer Eid prayer or Jummah prayer at these places. He did not offer Eid prayer or Jummah prayer during travel. For this reason, scholars believe that Jummah prayer should not be offered during travel. There is a minor difference of opinion among scholars on this. The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) did not offer Eid prayer during travel, and for this reason, the majority of scholars say that where there is Jummah, there is no Eid prayer.
During the blessed time of the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) in Madinah Tayyibah, only one Eid prayer was offered, and no one offered Eid prayer individually. This is the view of the majority of scholars, but there is a difference of opinion.
For this reason, Muslims in Mina first perform stoning and then sacrifice to follow the Sunnah.
The acts performed by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) for the sake of nearness to Allah are acts of worship and should be performed in the same way for nearness to Allah. The acts that the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) abandoned or did not perform for some reason are neither acts of worship nor recommended. And the acts done on the basis of permissibility but without the intention of worship are permissible. Some scholars have considered similarity in form as recommended, such as the practice of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them).
Most scholars say that following the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) will be when we have the same intention as he had; mere similarity in form will not be beneficial. And performing an act with the intention of worship which the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not do with that intention is not recommended because it will not be following him but opposing him. In one narration it is stated:
إنه كان يصلي حيث أدركته الصلوة
“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would pray wherever the time of prayer arrived.”
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari, Book of Virtues of the Ansar: Chapter on the Arrival of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions in Madinah, Hadith: 3932)
There is also a narration in Sahih Bukhari in which Sayyiduna Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) asked which mosque was built first on earth. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
المسجد الحرام ثم المسجد الأقصى ثم حيث ما أدركتك الصلوة فصل فإنه مسجد
“First the Masjid al-Haram, then Masjid al-Aqsa, and after that, wherever the time of prayer arrives, pray there; that is the mosque.”
In a narration in Sahih, these words are also mentioned:
فإن فيه الفضل
“Praying there is the best.”
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari, Book of Prophets: Chapter 10, Hadith: 3366, 3425; Sahih Muslim, Book of Mosques: Chapter on Mosques and Places of Prayer, Hadith: 520)
Therefore, those people who, when the time of prayer arrives at a place, leave without praying there to go to a place where there is a sign of a prophet and pray there, are abandoning and opposing the Sunnah of the Prophet.
